Stay on target

Not everyone who’s interested in an EV is looking for something with the range or bevy of high-tech options that a Tesla or Chevy Volt features. Many of us just want a simple, eco-friendly way to putter back and forth to work.

You’d be hard-pressed to find an EV (or any powered vehicle, for that matter) that’s simpler than the prototype being shown off by France’s XYT. Just how simple is it? Toyota says that it takes around 30,000 individual parts to build an average car today. It takes just 580 parts to build this slick sub-compact.

As you’d expect it’s fairly bare-bones, but that’s kind of the point. This is a vehicle that’s built for the sort of driving the vast majority of folks do day in and day out — 60 miles or so to work and back. It’s also meant to be simple enough to put together that assembly doesn’t have to happen in a factory.

XYT figures that its EV is so uncomplicated that a small, trained crew could assemble vehicles wherever they’re in demand. It’s straightforward, highly modular design also makes it easy to customize, and we’re not just talking exterior paint and interior trims. Want a pickup or cargo box for the back? No problem… it’s a simple swap.

The company also doesn’t think you should have to trade your old vehicle in just so you can enjoy a few new features on a new model. XYT plans to offer upgrades to extend the lifespan of its vehicles. That’s sure to be a big selling point given that people are already hanging onto their cars nearly two years longer than they were a decade ago.

Now, just because the car’s design has been simplified doesn’t mean XYT has taken shortcuts when it comes to safety. Clean Technica reports that the car has “passed all crash tests and [is] more than roadworthy.” That’s certainly good news, because while you might be willing to sacrifice a massive touchscreen console, you probably don’t want to skimp on things like seatbelts, airbags, and brakes.